However, the 50-year-old said none of the items gathered by police during a search of the property – crack cocaine, counterfeit notes and drug dealing paraphenalia – belonged to him.

During his trial at Reading Crown Court, the jury heard police forced entry to the basement flat to carry out a search warrant on the morning of November 16, 2010 and McDonald arrived in a car with his girlfriend shortly after.

Charles Ward-Jackson, prosecuting, said McDonald was seen handing some cash to the woman when he saw the police, but it was seized by officers. They found items associated with drug dealing in the kitchen, including several rolls of cling film.

Mr Ward-Jackson said: “Although there was a kitchen in the flat there was very little evidence of cooking. This defendant is no Fanny Cradock in the kitchen.”

More cling film was found in the bedroom along with nearly 13.6g of crack cocaine valued at between £800 and £1,300, and cannabis valued at about £40.

Another 10g of cocaine, valued at between £400 and £500, was discovered in the lounge, the court heard.

Officers found a stack of fake £20 notes in a hollowed-out Yellow Pages, £1,000, a stolen laptop, 80g of phenacetin used to cut cocaine, scales with traces of cocaine on the surface and a mixing bowl.

A mobile phone seized from the flat by police included recent text messages which appeared to be from addicts wanting to meet up to buy drugs.

McDonald was arrested and taken to Loddon Valley Police Station where he made no comment in interview, but prepared a written statement which said: “I’m not dealing any drugs. I have nothing in my flat which I use for preparing drugs.”

He was released on bail and interviewed by police about a year later when he again made no comment in interview, but made another prepared statement saying he had no knowledge of the counterfeit notes and the laptop belonged to a friend.

McDonald, of Charnwood Court, Basingstoke Road, Whitley, denied two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply, possession of counterfeit money and proceeds of drug dealing, including cash and a stolen laptop. He admitted possession of cannabis.

However, on Monday the jury convicted him on all counts and he was jailed for three-and-a-half years.